College Football 26 best teams list and in-game NCAA rankings

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Alabama stands tall on top of the College Football 26 best teams list

College Football 26
(Image credit: EA)

It's fun to compare the College Football 26 best teams with real life now the season is over – unbeaten national champs Indiana ranked 14th when this campaign began. Runners-up Miami kicked off College Football 26 in 11th, with Alabama, Penn State and Texas selected as this edition's top three. Scroll on to look back at the 25 highest-rated rosters, along with the worst five, in our College Football 26 best teams guide.

College Football 26 best teams rankings

Alabama and Penn State prepare to face off in College Football 26

(Image credit: EA)

Our College Football 26 best teams list is set according to each team’s offensive and defensive ratings, and correct as of Saturday, July 12 – AKA the game’s launch weekend. Alabama just about claim top spot thanks to its 89 offense and 96 defense, although those who just want to outscore other teams may be better placed in choosing Penn State, Ohio State, or Texas. All three share initial offense ratings of 91. Below is the full College Football 26 rankings list:

  1. Alabama: 89 OVR – OFF 89, DEF 96
  2. Penn State: 88 OVR – OFF 91, DEF 94
  3. Texas: 88 OVR – OFF 91, DEF 94
  4. Ohio State: 88 OVR – OFF 91, DEF 92
  5. Clemson: 88 OVR – OFF 89, DEF 90
  6. Notre Dame: 88 OVR – OFF 89, DEF 90
  7. Texas A&M: 88 OVR – OFF 89, DEF 90
  8. Georgia: 88 OVR – OFF 87, DEF 92
  9. LSU: 86 OVR – OFF 89, DEF 92
  10. Texas Tech: 86 OVR – OFF 87, DEF 92
  11. Miami: 86 OVR – OFF 89, DEF 88
  12. Oregon: 86 OVR – OFF 85, DEF 92
  13. Florida: 86 OVR – OFF 89, DEF 84
  14. Indiana: 85 OVR – OFF 89, DEF 88
  15. Arizona State: 85 OVR – OFF 91, DEF 84
  16. Oklahoma: 85 OVR – OFF 87, DEF 88
  17. Michigan: 85 OVR – OFF 82, DEF 92
  18. Ole Miss: 85 OVR – OFF 85, DEF 86
  19. Duke: 84 OVR – OFF 83, DEF 88 
  20. Tennessee: 84 OVR – OFF 83, DEF 88
  21. SMU: 84 OVR – OFF 87, DEF 82
  22. Auburn: 84 OVR – OFF 85, DEF 84
  23. Missouri: 84 OVR – OFF 83, DEF 84
  24. Baylor: 82 OVR – OFF 87, DEF 84
  25. Illinois: 82 OVR – OFF 85, DEF 86

College Football 26 worst teams list

The match selection screen in College Football 26

(Image credit: EA)

No, don’t throw stuff at your laptop screen, or launch your phone across the room. The next list isn’t our doing: we are merely the messenger. And if your team makes this particular section, it just makes for even more of a challenge in Dynasty – right?

Below are the default College Football 26 worst teams, as of launch weekend:

  1. Kent State: 68 OVR – OFF 62, DEF 64
  2. Akron: 69 OVR – OFF 67, DEF 60
  3. Umass: 69 OVR – OFF 66, DEF 64
  4. Missouri State: 69 OVR – OFF 66, DEF 64
  5. Delaware: 70 OVR – OFF 67, DEF 64

Looking for some more help with the game? Then expand your team with our College Football 26 recruiting guide, check out the College Football 26 best playbooks to get a tactical advantage, and use these College Football 26 sliders settings for the most realistic experience.

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Ben Wilson
Ben Wilson
Freelance Writer

I'm GamesRadar's freelance sports editor, and obsessed with NFL, WWE, MLB, AEW, and occasionally things that don't have a three-letter acronym – such as Chvrches, Bill Bryson, and Streets Of Rage 4. (All the Streets Of Rage games, actually.) Even after three decades I still have a soft spot for Euro Boss on the Amstrad CPC 464+.

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